Our Story
In the spring of 2012, five students from the University of Georgia decided to get their hands dirty. Their brainchild began as an after school program at Barnett Shoals Elementary School in Athens, Georgia, known simply as Garden Club.
Founder Sophie Giberga realized very quickly that Garden Club was not enough. Max, Carmen, Anna, Caleb, Naya, Peyton, Matthew, and Isaiah had demonstrated the potential that Garden Club had for giving children a greater appreciation for food and, more specifically, for healthy food. Thus, The Lunchbox Garden Project was born.
Currently, The Lunchbox Garden Project is growing at the original location, Barnett Shoals Elementary School, but we have also expanded to Rocksprings Community Center.
Founder Sophie Giberga realized very quickly that Garden Club was not enough. Max, Carmen, Anna, Caleb, Naya, Peyton, Matthew, and Isaiah had demonstrated the potential that Garden Club had for giving children a greater appreciation for food and, more specifically, for healthy food. Thus, The Lunchbox Garden Project was born.
Currently, The Lunchbox Garden Project is growing at the original location, Barnett Shoals Elementary School, but we have also expanded to Rocksprings Community Center.
Our Mission
ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY THROUGH FOOD
We want today's youth and tomorrow's leaders to understand the relationship between food and nature; where it comes from, how its grown, what makes healthy food.
We can’t grow food without taking care of the environment that nurtures it. We want kids to know and be excited about how we are interconnected with the food system and environment around us.
When a kid opens their lunchbox in the cafeteria, we want them to see the garden or farm that grew their lunch not just plastic wrappers.
We want today's youth and tomorrow's leaders to understand the relationship between food and nature; where it comes from, how its grown, what makes healthy food.
We can’t grow food without taking care of the environment that nurtures it. We want kids to know and be excited about how we are interconnected with the food system and environment around us.
When a kid opens their lunchbox in the cafeteria, we want them to see the garden or farm that grew their lunch not just plastic wrappers.